Monday 30th March 2020 'Hot' and 'Cold' With the recent dramatic rise in the number of coronavirus patients there has been a seismic shift in the pattern of patients admitted to hospitals and an increase in the demand for hospital beds. From my own ongoing experience I can attest to this. In my hospital there … Continue reading Using military tactics to fight the war against COVID-19
Month: Mar 2020
Saturday 28th March 2020 Protecting healthcare workers during a pandemic Whilst much of the nation has been instructed to stay at home for the sake of others during this pandemic, healthcare workers have been rallied to march to hospitals and clinics en masse. The increasing cohort of healthcare workers include some 25,000 additional final year … Continue reading Protecting healthcare workers during a pandemic
Thursday 26th March 2020 A tale of kindness The alarm goes off at 0630. I get out of bed knowing that today I do indeed have work, unlike my unnecessary trip to the hospital yesterday. (If you don't know what I'm talking about, check our yesterday's blog for a good laugh...) I start the work … Continue reading Dealing with a pandemic on a budget
Wednesday 25th March 2020 One (Silly) Doc's Story The day started at 0630 with my alarm jarring me awake. I hit the snooze button for a further ten minutes rest before eventually resigning my fate to get up for work with the second alarm. A run through my morning routine in autopilot before dashing for … Continue reading COVID-102
Tuesday 24th March 2020 Credit: Worldometers.info A short history of epidemics Like a well orchestrated theatrical play history shows us that epidemics are structured into three acts: (1) Act I- Society acts for self-reassurance and acts to protect the economy. The impacts on society are subtle and life appears relatively normal. The first act begins … Continue reading COVID-101
Monday 23rd March 2020 Credit: worldometers.info A very welcome day of respite. Last week was an 80+ hour work week, something that happens roughly every three weeks. Now I have two days off to complete life admin and recharge my batteries for the week ahead. A beautiful and crisp morning. A once busy street now … Continue reading A bittersweet reality: A note on social isolation
Sunday 22nd March 2020 Credit: worldometers.info A tiring weekend. We were busy with an increasing number of respiratory boarders on the ward, taking up a third of beds. Yet still the elective surgical cases continued to be admitted. Short sighted? Perhaps, but still the march goes on. There have been greater calls from doctors and … Continue reading Mums the word: A note on social distancing
Friday 20th March 2020 Source: Worldometers.info A beautiful day in Edinburgh with blue skies and sun shining. As I ride the bus to work I'm struck by the number of people still going about their lives on the city streets. Small businesses still open. This contrasts to Berlin, which I visited just a few days … Continue reading A call to war
Thursday 19th March I started an hour late today, the FY2 called to tell me to come in a bit late because I had stayed on late last night. The surgeons are bringing in extra cases to clear their surgical lists before all elective surgeries are cancelled in Scotland. Last night, I stayed late to … Continue reading Quiet before the storm
One Doc's Story One Doc's Story is the musings of a junior doctor working in the NHS in Scotland. Started up in midst of the global COVID-19 pandemic originating in Wuhan, China. Drawing on inspiration from ward affairs to world affairs, this is just one doc's story of the daily trials and tribulations of life … Continue reading The Journey Begins
One Doc's Story 